Switch.



PATENTED MAY 5, 1903.

NO- v727,223.

1. SMITH SWITCH; I APPLICATION FILED J'AI H. 19, 1903.

.55 Q Ft Jo/w sM/TH, WITNESSES; )NVE'NTOR.

?M;%@ I v I I ZAfiZi UNITED STATES Patented May 5, 1903.

JOHN SMITH, OF TACOMA, WASHINGTON.

SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 727,223, dated. May 5, 1903.

Application filed January 19, 1903. Serial No. 139,671. (No model- To all whom, it ntay concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN SMITH, a citizen of Finland, residing at Tacoma, in the county of Pierce and State of Washington, have invented a new and useful Switch, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in tongue-switches, such as are commonly used on street-car tracks; and the objects of my improvement are, first, to operate the switch from the car without stopping the car or alighting therefrom; second, to attain the former object by the simplest means compatible with practicability. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan of the switch set up. Fig. 2 is a plan, and Fig. 3 an elevation, of the tongue and throwing-lever. Fig. 4: is a section through the switch on the line 4 4, Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to Fig. 1, the rail AA forms the main track, and the rail A B the turnout or siding track. The rails A A and A B form the guard-rails of the switch.

The tongue 0 is of similar shape to those in use at the present date, except that I profor to make-it slightly deeper at the point end, as shown in Fig. 3. It is pivoted in the usual manner by pivot D. Its point is slotted horizontally to receive the hereinafterdescribed throwing-lever E and is provided with a pivot F, passing through the slot, whereby the said throwing-lever E is pivoted to it, the elevation of this slot being such that the flange of the car-wheel passing between the rails A A will not be able to touch the throwing-lever E.

The throwing-leverE, pivoted by means of a bolt or pivot F to the tongue 0, is constructed with two projections G, which are substantially symmetrical, as shown in Fig. 2. The forward end of the lever E may be tapered slightly, so as to come to a blunt point. Lever E moves freely about pivot F.

The lugs H, shaped substantially as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, are placed between the filler I and the heads of the rails A A. (See Fig. l.) It will be noted that these lugs H are not placed symmetrically with the main rails A A, (see Fig. 1,) but that the one under the head of rail A is farther forward than the one under the rail A. The difference in the location of these lugs H is slightly exaggerated in Fig. 1; but I find it very advantageous, and I might almost say essential, to the proper working of my switch that these lugs H be so placed or else that the shape of one of the sides of the throwinglever E might be changed by moving forward the projection G to correspond with the position of the lug H. The lugs H do not project beyond the heads of the rails, and therefore do not in any way interfere either with the flange of the wheel or with the operating-bar K. (Illustrated in section in Fig. 1.)

The operating-bar K' is attached to the car preferably directly in front of the left-hand wheel and is so connected, by means of levers or other suitable mechanism, that the motorman may raise or lower this bar K, so as to either clear the rails or enter the space between the rails A A, and thus to engage the throwing-lever E. The width of this bar K is such that it may pass freely but not loosely between the projection G of the throwing-lever E and the rail A or A. I have shown the bar K rectangular in cross-section, and yet I do not wish it to be understood that it must be of that shape, for I perceive that other shapes have their advantages-for instance, a triangular shape with the point toward the switch, and which might be turned so that the point will rest either against the head of the rail A or A, according to which way it is desired to throw the switch.

The operation of my switch may be briefly described as follows: If the tongue 0 is set for the main line, as shown in Fig. 1, the throwing-lever E, being pivoted to the point of G, will lie against the lug H under the rail A and will cross the space between the rails A A and its forward point will lie under the head of rail A. If, however, the tongue 0 be set for the turnout or siding,,its point will of course lie against the guard-rail A in the notch therein provided for it. The throwinglever E will in this case rest against the lug H under the head of rail A and will cross the space between the rails A and A and its point will rest under the head of rail A.

Whichever way the tongue C may therefore be set the throwing-lever E always crosses from the point of the tongue 0 to the other rail. A car on approaching the switch and wishing to pass over the switch without throwing it may do so by keeping the operating-bar K in an elevated position. The wheels of the car as they pass over the throwing-lever E will not in any manner disturb it. If, however, a car approaching the switch wishes to throw it, the motorman depresses the operating-bar K, so that it enters the space between the rails A A sufficiently low to engage the throwing-lever E when it reaches it. As the car proceeds onward the operating-bar K pushes between the converging surfaces of the rail-head and the side of the throwinglever E. The result of this action is that the forward end of the throwing-lever E presses against the web of the rail, and as it cannot travel in that direction it forms the fulcrum for the time being, and the point of the tongue 0 being pivoted to the rearward end of the lever E and being pivoted at D is thrown partially between the rails. This action continues until the operatingbar K reaches a point opposite the rearward angle of the lug H At this point the bar K begins to engage the projection G on the lever E and presses the lever E against the lug H and transfers the fulcrum of the lever E from the forward point thereof to the portion engaging the lug H, and as the bar K passes forward it acts on the projection G, pushing the rearward end of the lever E, and therefore also the point of the tongue 0, clear into alinement with the rails and at the same time throws the forward end of the lever E across the space between the rails in the opposite direction. The leverage as the bar K passes along this portion of the switch is very great, and the point of the tongue 0 is pushed firmly into its proper position and is then ready for the wheels of the car to pass over it. As soon as the point of C is in place the bar K passes beyond the projection G. The shape of the projection G is such that when the tongue is thrown into one position or the other the surface of the projection G is substantially parallel with the head of the rail, and the distance between the projection'Gr and the head of the rail is substantially equal to the thickness of the operating-bar K.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a tongue-switch, the combination with the tongue, of the throwing-lever pivoted thereto, and of the stationary lugs secured to said switch and adapted to engage said throwing-lever.

2. In a tongue-switch, the combination with the tongue,- of the throwing-lever pivoted thereto and provided with projections on the sides thereof, and of the stationary lugs secured to said switch and adapted to engage said throwing-lever.

3. A tongue-switch consisting of rails and guard-rails, a tongue pivoted thereto, athrowing-lever forward of said tongue and pivoted thereto and having projections on its sides and lugs secured to said rails and guard-rails beneath the headsthereof.

4, In a tongue-switch, a throwing-lever pivoted to the forward end of the tongue, said lever being adapted to he engaged by an operating-bar carried by the car so that when said bar engages said lever the fulcrum is at the point thereof until said lever is thrown into contact with a lug secured to said switch and then said lug forms the fulcrum thereof for the complete throwing of said lever and tongue.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN SMITH.

Witnesses:

CHAS. WAGAR, Gno. W. FOWLER. 

